Order of the Flame (3)

Order Of The Flame (3)

The stained glass found in the "Lovely Lane Chapel" on the grounds of Epworth By The Sea is the site for our daily communion service held each day at 7:15 AM. This is only one example of the windows found in the chapels, we are surrounded by stained glass as we meet each morning. What a setting to begin to meet God.

John Wesley once said, “Give me 100 preachers, who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergy or lay, such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven upon earth.” This is the foundation upon which the Order Of The Flame was begun. As 100 individuals gather, including both lay and ordained, each year for training and preparation for "Faith Sharing" or evangelism, they are being prepared to be a part of the current year's class of 100. My wife and I have found it to be an exciting to be a part of this year's class.

Earlier today we traveled up the road to Fort Frederica - the first site of John and Charles' preaching in the Americas. In fact we met John Wesley this afternoon. He took just a few minutes to describe the work he and Charles did in Fort Frederica and, later, Savannah. It was not a very satisfying ministry for either - but it prepared them in several ways for the work that would begin just a few years later when they met Jesus Christ.

One of the highlights of each day has been the small groups that we have been part of. Groups have been composed of 12-13 people. Our group had five couples and three individuals. We each came to the Order Of The Flame for different reasons, we each came with different needs, we each came ready for God to work. And He did. Today's Wesley Groups (as the small groups are called) focused on the where we were in ministry. Though we had an hour scheduled, it took us nearly 90 minutes to hear all the stories - and we still had time for dinner! I thank God for the contribution that this group made to my life. I will hope to maintain contact with them again in the coming days and months.

The evening ended with a Celebration and Praise service. No preaching, just singing, praising, and praying. We spent time with our arms raised high to glorify Jesus and our knees acknowledging our need to depend on Him.

Many times throughout the week we were reminded that "God is good - all the time; all the time - God is good." We are experiencing his grace and goodness this week.

Yours because His,

Pastor Patrick